: First, somewhere along the line Palpatine will have to reveal himself to be Vader's father (GL didn't put in "I don't know who the father is" without a reason)

I had always thought that the virgin birth of Anakin is meant to be a parallel to Virgin births described in several religious books (not only the bible, there are similar events mentioned in virtually all religions reaching from hinduism to aztech religion). Since he is "the chosen one", this would make sense, since SW is more or less a modern legend.But having Palpy be Vaders father would be.....freakish, to say the least.I mean, how did he manage that with Shmi?Make her drunk with Correlian Ale? Jedi mind tricks?Personally I find it very unlikely but it would be cool nonetheless.